Joan H. Weill

CHAIRMAN
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Joan H. Weill

Biography

As a tireless supporter of several cultural, philanthropic and civic endeavors, Joan H. Weill commits a great deal of her life to public service and education.

Mrs. Weill joined the Board of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation in 1994 and has served as its Chairman since 2000. Under her leadership, the Board has developed key priorities to help the organization reach its programmatic goals and maintain a strong financial standing.

Joan, along with her husband Sandy, was instrumental in the building of the Ailey organization’s permanent home, which is named in her honor, The Joan Weill Center for Dance. The building, completed in 2004, is the largest dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world. The Weills continued their leadership roles as co-chairs of The Next Step: The Campaign to Build Ailey’s Endowment to commemorate Ailey’s 50th anniversary in 2008 and secure the future of the organization.

Mrs. Weill has worked with great enthusiasm and heart to advocate, promote and garner support for the Ailey organization, most especially for Ailey’s innovative Arts In Education programs that reach more than 100,000 underserved youth across the country each year.

In addition, Mrs. Weill is the most recent Chair of Paul Smith’s College of the Adirondacks, having spearheaded the College’s transition from a 2-year to 4-year institution. Paul Smith’s excels in forestry, culinary arts, hospitality and life sciences, among other curricula. Mrs. Weill is Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, which promotes music education in classrooms around the world.

Mrs. Weill’s dedication to women’s health issues led to her appointment as Co-Chair of the New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center’s Women’s Health Symposium. Long an advocate for the elderly, Mrs. Weill is also an Honorary Board Member and President Emeritus of Citymeals-On-Wheels.

Mrs. Weill’s personal commitment to public service also extends to many of the activities in which Mr. Weill is involved, including the National Academy Foundation (NAF), Weill Cornell Medical College and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she serves on the Executive Committee of their Lying-In Hospital.

Mr. and Mrs. Weill are recipients of the 2009 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Award in recognition of their philanthropic efforts. Mrs. Weill is a graduate of Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded in 1958 by dancer, choreographer and visionary Alvin Ailey, to bring African-American cultural expression and the American modern dance tradition to the world.

The Ailey Extension Now everyone can dance at Ailey with our "real classes for real people." Choose from 25+ different dance and fitness techniques.

The Ailey Studios The Joan Weill Center for Dance has multiple spaces for events of any size, including 12 studios, a patio and the 255 seat Ailey Citigroup Theater. The Ailey Studios are also a spectacular venue for corporate meetings and private receptions.

Arts In Education Ailey's community programs are committed to bringing dance to classrooms, communities and people throughout the world.

The Ailey Legacy Ailey introduces a new college-level lecture, technique and repertory residency.